PLASTIC SURGERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2416, 11 April 1922, Page 4

PLASTIC SURGERY.

Major H. D. Gillies recently delivered a lantern lecture to doctors in London, showing them conclusively what real advance is being made in plastic surgery. His great work, initiated, at. Sideup Hospital during the .war, still proceeds, and the medical men of other countries agree that in this branch of surgical science England leads the way. “The credit for this progress," writes “Quex,.” of the Evening News (who in private life is Captain G. H. F. Nicholas, who has just written the history of “The 18th Division in the Great War"), is due to Major Gillies,- who must have sacrificed much immediate gain in unobtrusively pursuing his purpose, but twenty years hence will be known as a pioneer in humanity’s cause. IMPROVED MENTAL STATES.^ This taking of a piece of bone from an unharmed rib, a piece of gristle from some other part of the body, the delicate'transplanting of skin, and the slow reparation of facial disfigurement requires a patience and a precision that demands the utmost concentration (says “Quex”). Some of the cinematograph and lantern slide illustrations of cases successfully treated shown to the doctors were truly amazing. Noses were built for men and women suffering from lupus, skin transplanted on patients most horribly burnt by fire. In nearly every case it was noted that a successful operation meant an improved mental state for the patient. THE TOO “ROMAN" NOSE.

There was humour in some of the cases. A young fellow up North had a nose made. When it was finished he objected because it was too “Roman" in shape. So Major Gillies and his assistants set to work afresh. Before 'the patient was fully convalescent they had an alarm. He had disappeared. He was next heard of in Ireland, well and happy. He had not been able to restrain himself when trouble broke out in Ireland. He had joined the Black and Tans. There was another ease of a young man with a badly-lmrned cheek. Skin was transplanted from his chest. “He was a very modest young fellow,” said Major Gillies,” “and we used to bring in surgeons to show how, with the new skin, he could still blush.” A pretty girl was present at the lecture. She had had an ugly patch of hair, three inches by two, on one side of her chin. This was removed. In its place appeared a layer of skin taken from her forehead. Only a tiny scar on her chin showed after the operation. The New Zealand surgeon is still a great golfer, but the game now comes only as relaxation from exacting work. “Quex” supposes that he is still a potential champion, just as he was in 1914, when .his match at Sandwich, with poor Jack Graham, was looked upon as the tit-bit of the championship.